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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

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CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


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*'-g''gy«a!iML'»swte85ft»/aai^8fle^tegi4wa>ii« 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


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M 


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D 
D 
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\ 


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Ce  document  est  film6  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqud  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


t 


12X 


16X 


20X 


28X 


32X 


) 


ails 

du 

difier 

Line 

iage 


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la  dernldre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
emprelnte. 

Un  des  symboles  sulvants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernldre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  §tre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Stre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  filmd  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrleur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  sulvants 
lllustrent  la  mdthode. 


rrata 
o 


pelure. 


□ 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

^ 


41ST  CONUllKSS, 

Is*  ScsNion. 


SENAl'E. 


(  Mis.  J)oo. 
)    No.  14. 


li  K  T  1^  K  H 


«)!• 


J  .    (i  R  E  (i  0  II Y    S  M  I  T  n  . 

Prenuleut  of  ilic  ^,'o^•tlu■)•ll,  J'acijw  railwad,  adttrcsxcd  to  Hon.  George,  F. 
Etlmnnd.s,  envlosinff  two  vommr.nicatiouH  in  ^-elation  to  the  treaty  with 
(treat  Itritaln  eoneernbuf  the  inland  of  San  J  nan. 


M AKcii  "JJ,  l-^ii'.t. — Orilcrcd  to  lie  on  tlio  table  iiiid  lie  priiiti'il. 


Wasuimston,  Febrnari/ ho,  ISlii). 
J)KAii  8iii:  As  tli»>  considcriitioii  oC  lli(^  ticiity  recently  inado  by  the 


I  trust  no  ;ii'tii)M  ultlie  Seiiiite  will  Im"  tiiii<'M  wliicli  sliiill  siiirenderthe 
island  ofSan -liian  to  (Ireat  IJiitain. 
I  am,  veiv  icsix'ctl'ullv,  vonrs. 

.1.  <iHK(i()l{V  SMITH, 
/'resident  Northern  Paeijie  Railroad. 
Hon.  (;i;(».  l'\  IOdaumjs, 

I'nited  States  Senate. 


\\AsiiiN(iT()N.  Fvhrnanj  \,  1S(»{). 

Sii! :  In  replx  to  yonr  lettci'  of  vrstcrday,  on  the  so-ealled  "  San  -Inan 
((ncstion,"  1  liave  to  say,  that  1  am  utterly  opposed  to  Mr.  .lohnscni's 
('onveiiti(»ii,  vet'cn'injLi'  tlie  title  of  the  island  to  tlie  "  President  of  the 
Swiss  Contcdeiation." 

In  tlie  tirst   place.  I  think  it   dcrojiatoiy  to  the  honor  of  the  Tnited 


*M 


i-  SAN    ,11  A.N     ISLAM) 

HtiUcs  (o  icrci'  the  (lucstioii  iif  iill.  Tlicjoiiit  o('cii|iii)i()ii  of  tlic  tcnitorv 
t»ii  tlic  I'iicilic  Wiis  tcnniiiiiird  hy  tlic  tiviit.v  (»!'  1S4<;,  llic  line  of  the  Httli 
piiialh'I  l»«'inj;ii(l(ti)lc(l  iis  tlic  liiisis;  hut  its  tliis  line,  iiioldiij-iMl  to  the 
srii,  vould  cut  otr  ii  |»;irt  of  Vancdiivcr  isliiinl,  Mr.  ISiuliiuiiiii  (jitallv 
i'ouscntcd  to  dctlcct  it  tliroii;;li  tlic  f-iilf  of  (icoiiiiia  aiwl  the  strait  «>r 
Fiica,  iismjn'  tlic  words,  ''tlic  middle  ol"  tlic  cliamicl  wliicli  scpanitcs  the 
coiitiiu'iit  Inmi  Vaiicoiiv<'i''s  island."  It  was  iKMlcctlv  wcP  midcrslood 
at  the  lime  that  the  (•(•mpaet  juroiip  of  iiueniiediate  islands,  of  wln<'h  San 
,Inan  is  one,  and  which  lies  entirely  sontli  (»f  the  \\)\\\  i»arallei,  would 
hehMij;-  to  the  I'nited  States;  and  Mr.  lienton  cxpiesslv  rclciTcd  to  the 
tiK't  in  the  debate  when  uryin^i'  the  rafilicatioii  oC  the  treaty.  Suhse 
(|uently,  however,  the  llritish,  with  whom  it  seems  inii»(.<sil»le'to  mak(^  it 
treaty  that  shall  lie  a  finality,  started  the  claim  to  the  entire  /iroui*, 
Misistin--- that  the  c<»niitarativcly  insij-niticant  Canal  de  Kosario,  which 
incr<'ly  separates  the  continent  from  flioso  smaller  islands,  was  to  he 
taken  as  the  one  "which  se|»arates  the  continent  from  Vancouver's 
island,"  instead  of  the  larj^er  and  deej»er  Canal  de  llaro,  Iviii}-'  nearer  to 
\  aiicouver  island.  Their  motive  Mas  (thvioiis  enouj;h.  tliev  saw  that 
this  fiioup,  taken  t(»|i-<'tlier,  c(»uld  he  complet«'lv  fortified;  that  in  its 
hmd-Idcked  harbors  all  the  navies  of  the  world  coidd  lie  safely,  and  that 
the  Cnited  States  would  then  possess  a  naval  position  coverinji-  ut  once 
the  «ulf  of  (Jeornia,Fuca  strait,  and  I'u^et  sound,  thus  holding'  Kiiiihind 
ill  check  in  those  waters. 

^  On  the  whole  line  of  our  coast,  from  San  l)ie.ii-o  to  the  .strait  of  Fina. 
San  Francisco  is  the  <»nly  harbor  at  oin-e  accessible  and  defensible.  The 
ownership  of  tli<'  southern  eml  of  Vanc(»uver  island  ,nave  1(.  (Ireat 
IJritaiii  IJarclay  sound,  one  side  of  the  strait,  of  Fiica,  with  the  admira 
hie  harbor  of  Ks(piimalt,and  the  islands  of  the  Satiirna  uroup,  borderiii-: 
the  easterly  side  of  Vancouver  island.  The  islands  nearer  the  contr 
iiciit,  of  which  San  .liiaii  is  the  most  western,  are  our  onlv  protection 
aj,'aiiist  this  immense  advantafic  and  this  she.  wishes  to  depiive  us  of. 

Great  Ihitain,  in  fact,  seems  to  think  herself  entitled  to  all  the  stra- 
tef>k'  ])oints  of  the  world.  Malta  and  Cihraltar  and  the  Cape  of  (iood 
TIoiM'  are  but  instances  of  this  j>rasi)iii<i-  si»irit  of  dominion.  If  we  now 
^■ive  up  our  ],ositiou  «)n  the  j;ulf  ot  (Jeor<;ia,  the  Sandwich  Isljnids  will 
be  the  next  point  «'oveted.  She  knows  well  that  this  fireat  inlet,  the 
strait  of  Kuca,  and  the  wateis  o|)eniny  into  it,  rin-ct  sound,  and  the 
jjulf  ot]  (Jeoryia,  must  be  the  commercial  centre  of  the  North  Pacific. 
So  far  it  has  had  no  development,  excei>t  as  the  source  from  which  the 
lumber  of  tlie  countries  borderiuin-on  that  ocean  lias  been  obtained.  Ibit 
it  is  the  neai'cst  ]»oin^  to  China  aiid.Iapan  ;  it  is  the  nearest  ]»oint  to  th<' 
Canadas,  to  >'ew  Knsland,  and  to  >'ew  York.  The  power  that  owns  it 
will  control  absolutely,  by  its  interior  railroads,  tln^  trade  of  one-ihird  of 
fho  continent,  indei)eiident  of  that  (.f  Asia.  If  the  rnited  States  car 
lies  throu^ili  this  eiiter]nise  of  the  Northern  I'acific  railroad,  (Jreat 
Ibitain  will  not  undertake  another  route,  or  if  she  does,  it  will  be  a 
failure.  In  the  accpiisition  of  Alaska,  an  act  <»f  statesmanship  secoiid 
only  t(t  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  we  have  flanked  the  llritish  tcrrifo 
lies  on  the  north.  I  trust  w.-  shall  not  lose  the  vanfaiL:e-j;rouiid  thus 
obtained. 

The  idea  tindoubtedly  existiii;;'  in  the  iidiids  of  those  who  )Hit  forth 
this  claim  was,  that  sooner  than  make  tlu'  subject  an  occasictn  of  war, 
we  would  cinnpromise  by  theadojititm  of  an  intermediate  line,  the  chaii 
nel  known  on  <»ur  niai»s  as  "  President's  ]»assa«e,"  which  sei)arat:'s  San 
•liuaii  from  Orcas  and  liopez  islands,  and  in  this  way  thev  would  break 
the  cimtinuity  <tf  the  chain,  and  in  fact  steal  the  kev  <»f  the  lock.    They 


SAN    .MIAN    I.SLANI). 


l\ 


!»'  tcniforv 
oC  the  Mttli 
Ji<'<l  to  the 
iiiiii  t'atiill,v 
ic  stiiiit  of 
•iiiiifcs  the 
iiiidtMslood 
■  \vlii<'li  Siiii 
illci,  would 
•led  to  the 
l,v.     Snhsc 

>  to   IMidv(^  il 

the  ;>roii|», 
iiiio,  wliicli 
Wiis  to  be 
'iiiicoiivcr's 
•fi  iicaicr  to 
,\  saw  that 
tliat  ill  its 
y,  and  tliat 
i:ji'  at  oner 
1^'  Kii.ii'laiid 

it  of  I'lK-a. 
sil)l('.    TIic 
'  to  (Ircat 
lie  adiiiiia 
,  bordcriiiji 

tilt'  coiiti 
protection 
VC  IIS  of. 
II  tlic  stra- 
)i>  of  (lood 
If  we  now 
sii'iids  will 
t  inlet,  the 
d,  and  the 
•th  Paeitie. 
wliieli  the 
lined.  ]>iit 
ioiiit  to  tli<' 
at  owns  it 
iiie-lliii-d  of 
States  ear 
oad,  (ii'cat 

will  he  a 
lii])  seeoiid 
isli  teirito 
'oiiihI  thus 

)iiit  forth 
(Ml  of  war, 
,  the  eliaii 
irati's  San 
)nld  break 
•eli.    Tliev 


hoped  also  to  jiaiii  th'e  eession  «»f  Point  K'obeits,  a  part  (»f  the  eontinent 
falliiifj  south  of  the  jiarallel,  and  a  tMUiimaudiii};'  i)osition  on  the  f^ulf  of 
(Jeoi}>ia,  near  the  eiitranee  t<i  l"'raser  rivei-. 

Tlte<huiser  of  war  was  abu<;bear.  It  is  now  known  that,  when  tlie 
original  treaty  was  made,  the  IJritisli  jjoveniinent  would  have  yielded  tlu' 
whole  of  Vaiieoiiver  island  rather  than  li;;lit;  and  that  latei-,  if  firmly 
met,  slie>  would  have  reeeih'd  from  her  elaiiii  to  the  San  .liiaii  }>roui».  Thr 
movement  of  Cleiieral  Harney,  in,  takiii<>' military  possession  of  San  Jiiiin. 
was  the  ri^iht  one.  Then'  was  a  vast  deal  of  bluster  and  threat«'iiinf;-  on 
the  part  of  thcl.ritish,  but  there  would  have  been  no  tif;htiii«'  to  gt't 
possession  of  it;  but  Air.  JJuehanan,  then  J'lcsich'iit, made  another  fatal 
mistake.  He  sent  out  (leneral  Seott  to  eomiuoinise  once  more,  and  a 
new  .joint  o(('ii|)atioii  was  agreed  upon.  The  du]>lieity  of  the  JJritisli  in 
this  inatter  was  shown  diiriii}''  the  joint  survey  of  tht^  iKUthwest  bound- 
ary. While  tli(!  American  coiiimissiom'r,  Mr.  Archibald  ("am|)b(^ll,  had 
full  i»owers  to  settle  tlu^  line,  his  Kn^iish  eolIea;;iie,  <'aptain  Prevost,  of 
th(!  Uritish  navy,  had  secret  instructions  not  to  setth^  unless  San  ,Iuan 
island  was  yielded,  and  the  negotiations  were  continued  for  months  in 
vain  betbre  tlu^  reason  leaked  out. 

The  idea  seems  to  ])revail  that  JCiij;land,  i»ec<»niiii'A  iiiditlerent  t<t  the 
possession  of  t!n'se  western  teiTitories,»»nly  wants  to  be  "  let  down  {^raee- 
fully."  This  nn.'titkc^  will  prove  as  ruinous  as  the  others.  She  never  was 
more  determined  to  hold  on  to  these  points  than  now.  If  she  is  to  lose 
her  possessions  (ui  the  l*acitie,  as  she  must  eventually,  sln^  wishes  tomake 
us  iiav  the  heaviest  penalty  for  the  accjuisition.  She  will  jret  all  the  hi<,dier 
prieetbr  lioldinj'-  San  Juan  and  Point  Uoberts.  The  lleverdy  .lohnson 
treaty  shows  this  in  «^very  line.  The  (piestitm  of  the  true  construction 
of  the  treaty  of  ISKI  is  not  the  one  submitted.  The  st')ry  is  told  in  tin- 
second  and  in  tiie  sejiaratc^  articles.    The  second  artich!  reads  thus  : 

If  tlii>  rct'i'icn  .sliould  Itc  iiiiiibla  to  awertiiiii  iiiul  dotpriniuo  tlio  pii'iMse  line  intended  hy 
tho  words  of  tlio  trciity.  it  is  a!,'ri'cd  tlmt  it  slmll  Ik>  left  to  liiin  to  dctorniiiio  upon  some.  Iini> 
which,  ill  his  opinion,"  will  fiiinisli  an  cqnilMe.  Holntion  of  the  ditficnlty,  and  will  bo  the 
nt'aii'st  approximation  that  eaii  lio  made  to  the  aeeurato  construetion  of  the  treaty. 

And  the  ''se|»arate  article-' (a  jM'rfect  anoilialy  in  diplomacy)  luovides 
that  this  treaty  shall  not  «o  into  operation  or  have  any  ett'ect  until  the 
(luesti<Mi  of  NAT!  K  Ai.izATioN,  HOW  peiidinf>-,  shall  have  been  satisfactorily 
settled.  If  that  <loesnot  mean  that  San  .luan  island  (and  Point  UolTerts 
too)  is  to  be  f;iven  up  as  a  coiisi<leratioii  of  the  naturalization  treaty,  it 
has  no  nieanin^'. 

The  settlement  of  this  ([iiestion  is  left  to  the  arbitratimi  of  the  "  Presi 
dent  of  the  Swiss  roiifederation."  We  mij-ht-Wi'll  hesitate  at  the  sub- 
mission of  so  iniiKHtiint  a  matter  vo  a  person  of  whose  functions  and 
ubilities  wt^  know  nothiii};",  who  ntay  or  iiuiy  not  be  a  lawyer  or  a  states- 
man. IJiit  what  shall  we  stiy  when  we  lind  that  there  is  no  such  person  in 
(^\ist(^ui'e?  There,  isNo  ''  President  of  the  Swiss  ( ■onfederiiti«»n."  There 
are  i)residents  of  the  (lonxcil  National,  of  the  Conneil  (ks  Utats,  and  of 
the  Coim'ii  FtWral ;  thwv  presidents  after  ti  tashion  :  that  is,  iiresidinfr 
officers  i)f  three  <lifferent  bodies,  w  ho  are  elected  iinnually.  P>ut  to  which 
of  them  is  this  subject  submitted  *  Is  it  to  President  Kaiser,  of  Soleure, 
to  President  .Epi)li,  of  St.  (Jiall,  «)r  to  President  Dubs,  of  Zurich:' 

And  why  w  iis  it  not  submitted  (if  there  is  to  be  any  submission)  tis  a 
([iiesti  Ml,  pure  and  simple,  of  the  interpretation  of  the  treaty  of  l.S4(>f 
Are  V  to  (M>mi»romise  every  fresh  claim  that  <  Jreat  P>ritain  may  .set  uj) 
on  any  occasion  by  a  new  concession  J  If  there  is  a  real  doubt  about 
the  true  intent  and'  meanin},'  of  that  treaty,  let  us  submit  it  an  mich,  and 
submit  it  to  some  authority,  high  eiu)Ufj;li,  learned  enough,  and  respon 
sibh^  cnouf^h,  to  decider  it  tit  once. 


4  SAN    .!UAN    ISLAND. 

Submit  it  fov  cxainplc  to  the  coiisidenition  of  some  body  ol  .jiiiisis  ol 
eminence  iiiul  chiuactor ;  to  tiic^  "courts  of  cii.ssatiou"  of  I'^rauco,  tlic 
ultimate  law  court  «)f  appeals  of  tho  Frcu!!h  empire;  to  the  faculties  of 
law  of  lieidelberH'  or  Herliu,  rather  tliaii  t<»  any  soveni-iU.  or  iiotei.tate, 
or  ]U'osident,  who  may  be  {foveriied  by  ideas  of  what  is  politic,  or  of  what 
is  "equitable."  Siu'ii  a  reference  would  be,  it  is  true,  a  novelty  in  the 
att'airs  of  nations;  but  we  have  u  parallel  in  the.jurisditrtion  of  our  own 
Kui>renu^  Court.  One  hears  tlu're,  as  the  {ireat  French  Jurist  de  Tocque- 
ville  remarked  with  admiration,  the  cause  called  (for  exanqtlc)  of  fhe 
State  of  Massachusetts  r«.  tlu^  State  of  N(nv  York.  Why  not,  then,  in 
a  case  like  this,  of  the  interiu'ctation  of  a  treaty,  or,  as  in  that  of  the 
Alabama  claims,  oiu^  of  the  interiuetation  of  international  obligation, 
submit  it  to  such  courts?  Our  own  Supn'uie  Oourt  misht,  in  like  nmn- 
ner,  bo  the  arbiter  betwoc^u  other  nations. 

Whetlipr  or  uot  the  court  of  cassation  would  assume  this  oflice,  ol 
course  1  do  not  know;  I  merely  ]«esent  the  sufrKcstion ;  but  if  it  did,  its 
intervention  would  elevates  the  consideration  of  the  "leat  courts  of  justice 
throughout  the  civilized  world,  and  would  lessen  the  danger  of  wars, 
springing  from  the  uncertainty  of  diplonuitic  controversy,  ami  from  the 
interests  or  prejudices  of  rulers. 

So  far  as  the  Northern  ra(!ific  railroad  is  (concerned,  one  of  its  western 
termini  nuist  ultimately  be  on  Tuget  sound,  aiul  it  will  never  do  t<t 
leave  it  entirely  un<ler  Ibitish  guns.  ^Slorc  than  that,  the  command  of 
the  sound  involves  that  of  the  Cohunbia  river,  for  two  days'  march  from 
its  head  would  carry  a  hostile  force  to  the  mouth  of  the  Cowlitz,  with  no 
possible  obstruction,  except  .such  an  interior  line  of  f<nts  as  the  govern- 
ment never  would  consent  to  keep  up,  and  the  pojiulation  of  the  iiountry 
would  not  justify.  It  is  far  better  even  to  leave  the  island  as  it  stands, 
in  joint  occupation,  until  avc  are  ready  to  take  it. 

i  have  said  nothing  on  the  importance  of  the  route  of  tiie-  ^iorthern 
I'acilic  railroad,  that  must  speak  for  itself.  Its  completion  is  the  con- 
(piest  of  liritish  Ainerica.  What  is  called  "  the  fertile  belt,"'  the  country 
of  the  Saskatchav,an  and  the  lied  lliver  of  the  North,  lieconu  .-i  ex  necessi- 
tate rei  an  appanage  of  the  United  Stages  by  its  construction.  Its  eastern 
terminus  is  of  cotuse  the  city  of  New  York,  which  tluMiceforth  sujK'rsedes 
London  as  the  commercial  capital  of  the  world. 

'     1  am,  verv  respectfuUv,  vour  obedient  servant, 

'  (lEoiMJio  c.iivns. 

Hon. .).  (iKKGouY  Smith. 


.■»(!(»  NKW  .IEUSKV  AVKMK,  WASUINCiTON, 

Fehnumj,  4,  1809. 

DeAK  Sik:  It  gives  me  pleasure  to  state,  in  reply  to  your  letter,  that 
any  information  in  regard  to  the  islands  near  our  northwest  boundary 
in  my  possession  is  at  your  service. 

In'  our  conversation  a  few  evenings  ago  I  called  attention  to  the 
impcntance  of  the  islands  between  >'ancouver  island  and  the  main-land 
as  an  offset  in  a  strategical  j)ointof  view  to  the  southern  portion  of  Van- 
couver island,  which,  it  is  to  be  regretted,  was  not  placed  within  our  ter 
ritory  by  extending  the  4nth  parallel  across  to  the  Tacitic.  ocean.  This 
parailelof  north  latitude  extended  west  from  the  gulf  of  (leorgia  would 
have  given  us  one-(|uarter  of  Vancouver  island,  and  on  the  Pacific  shore, 
as  it  crosses  the  northern  i)art  of  Barclay  sound,  W(^  woidd  have  been  in 
possession  of  its  haibors.  as  well  as  those  smith  and  east  of  it  on  the 


■^ 


HAN    .MIAN     I8LAN1). 


r. jurists  ol' 
raiH'f,  tlic 
■iU'uUi»\s  or 

IMttCl.tiltC, 

or  of  what 
I'lty  in  tlic 
tt'  our  <)\vii 
ilo  Tocqiu'- 
|»1(')  of  flu' 
)t,  tlu'ii,  ill 
hut  of  tin- 
obligation, 
I  lik<^  luaii- 

s  oOi('«>,  of 
f  it  (lid,  its 
s  of  justice 
m-  of  wars, 
(1  from  till' 

its  western 
ever  do  to 
nuinand  of 
uu'cli  from 
tz,  with  no 
he  {jovcrn- 
ho  country 
<  it  staiids, 

'.  Jt'ortherii 
is  the  con- 
he  eountp 
.-i  ex  necem- 
Its  eastern 
sujiersedes 


(iiivns. 


itlTON, 

,  4,  1801>. 
letter,  that 
,  hountlary 


ion  to  the 
nniin-land 
ion  <>f  Van- 
lin  oiu'  ter- 
ean.  This 
rji'ia  would 
X'itii!  shore, 
ive  been  in 
f  it  on  the 


islund  coast.  Tin'  most  ini])ortant  harl)ors,  and  in  fact  Ww  oidy  ones,  in 
the  strait  of  .luan  d<'  Knca  ar»^  on  the  Vancouver  island  shore,  for  on  the 
south  side  of  Fnea  strait  there  are  but  a  few  o|>eii  roadsteads. 

At  the  entrance  of  l''iu'a  strait,  on  the  north  side,  there  are.  also  exten- 
sive tishinj;'  banks,  ext(indiii}>-  west,  in   IVoni  40  to   100  fathoms  water, 
which  at  no  distant  thiy  will  rival  those  of  Newfoundland  ;  and  for  fish 
in;;/]Mir|)oses  the  harbors  formed  by  tlie  numerous  islands  studding  l>ar 
clay  sound  \\w.  most  convenient. 

liarchiy  scauid  is  tin;  outlet  to  a  ^jreater  portion  of  Vam'ouver  islind, 
which  is  drained  thronfjli  the  Alberiii  <'anal,  tiiat  extends  U.j  miles 
throufih  a  mountainous  ranyc,  to  the  basin,  as  it  were,  of  the  island,  a 
level  country  heavily  tind)ered  and  watered  by  a  larjj^e  stream  that 
receives  its  su|>i>ly  fi'om  a  chain  of  lakes  i)enetratinji;  still  i'urther  north. 

These  ac(iuisiti<nis  would  have  been  of  }>reat  valno  to  American  inter 
ests,  beinji'  at  the  entrance  of  and  upon  the  Juan  Fuca  strait,  that  leads 
to  the  extcnf.ivc  waters  a  short  distance  east;  and  now,  uidess  w(^  secure 
San  .luan  island,  with  its  harbor,  the  conimerc((  of  this  vast  inland  sea 
will  be,  to  a  ;jreat  extent,  paraly/cd,  if  not  (U)ntrolled,  by  an  op])osin^' 
naval  i)owcr. 

These  islands,  extendi  ii}i  from  t  he  40tli  parallel  south  tothestrait  of  .luan 
de  Fuca,  hav(^  an  ai-ea  of  about  .■$.'5.")  s(juare  miles ;  and  the  ])rincipal  con 
tiinious  channels  south  to  the  Fuca  strait  nuiy  be  stated  as  follows,  viz : 

1.  Throuffh  INn-tier  J 'ass  south  by  Swanson  channel  and  the  Canal  d«' 
llaro,  leaviuff  UO  s(piarc  miles  of  islands  to  the  west  and  20,1  scpiare 
miles  to  the  east. 

li.  Through  Activ<'  I'ass south  by  the  Swanson  chaniu'l  and  th<^  Canal 
de  Haro,  h'avin;;  110  sipian^  miles  to  the  west  and  -J4r)  to  the  (nist. 

.'5.  Throufih  the  Canal  <Ie  llaro,  leavinji  145  s(|uare  miles  to  the  wcsi 
and  210  to  the  east. 

4.  Throufjh  I'rt'sidcnt's  i)assav:e,  Ontario  roads,  and  Little  l>elt  i>as- 
saf?e,leavin}j;  210  s(piare  nnles  to  the  west  and  145  s(puir<t  miles  to  the  east. 

Ami  tinally  thronjih   Rosario  strait,  |)lacin«;'  .'{10  square  nnles  to  the 
west,  or  all  the  islands  with  the  cx(H'ipti<ni  of  Cypress,  (Jucmes,  Sin 
clair,  ]>umini,  and  a  few  smaller  ones,  comprisiu};  only  abmd  45  scpnirc 
miles. 

In  the  j;'eo};rapliical  lucmoii-  published  in  executive  (h)cunu'nt  of  Sen- 
ate, Y.o.  20,  2d  session  40th  Conjjjress,  a  full  description  of  tln'se  islands 
is  given,  with  a  nmp  and  cross-section  showing  conclusively  "the  chan- 
nel which  sei)aratcs  the  eontinent  from  Vancouver's  island."  In  the  con- 
structicMi  of  that  maji,  traciu}-'  out  each  10-fathom  curve,  it  a|>pcars  that 
the  strongest  currents  are  from  the  gulf  of  (ieorgia  s(Hith  to  the  Fuca 
strait,  through  tlu^  two  main  channels,  the  Canal  de  Haro  on  the  west 
and  Kosario  strait  on  tlu'  east ;  and  in  order  to  show  at  a  glance  nature's 
dividing  line  the  10-fathom  curves  as  far  as  the  70th  fathom  \vA\i\  been 
shaded  by  sanding;  ami  using  the  map  to  illustrate  the  channel  ques- 
tion, I  suggested  following  the  strongest  current,  and  gav«^  thci  compari 
son  of  the  two  channels  tinit  is  more  fully  stated  under  the  heading  of 
"channels"  in  the  geographictal  memoir. 

The  i)osition  of  these  islands  bears  an  imjiortant  relation  to  the  ter 
mintjs  (d"  the  North  Pacific  r;  ilroad,  if  that  is  to  be  ui)on  the  waters  of 
I'uget  sound.  Independent  of  their  «'onunanding  iM)sition  as  naval  or 
nulitary  stations,  controlling,  as  they  will,  the  i)rincii)al  outlet  of  Wash- 
ington Territory,  they  of  necessity  will  be  the  onth^t  for  all  that  portion 
north  of  the  Skagit  river;  and  to  leave  that  (pu'stion  to  arbitration  is  to 
suggest  an  equal  division. 

It  has  been  and  doubtless  is  still  the  intention  of  the  Kngiisli  govern- 


(> 


SAN    .MIAN    LSI-AM). 


iiu'iit  tn  liavt'  a  i'aciti*',  railroad  t'roin  ( 'aiiada  Itiiilt,  and  iiltiiuaU^ly  to 
carry  Micir  (Miiiia  and  India  trade  of  tliir  I'atific  tliron}>ii  the  IWitisli 
|K).H.seHsi(tns;  and  knowin;;'  as  we  do  tlio  advantaf^cs  tlicy  lia\«^  lor  that 
«'nti'r|)ri.st',it  bclioovfs  us  to  use  cvt'iy  i'tl'ort  to  llrst  occujjy  tliat  ground, 
for,  if  it  is  of  advantaji'i^  to  tlu'ni,  liow  nmch  more  so  is  it  to  xis.  As  to 
llu»  eonntry  on  tlie  west,  tiio  i>asses  north  of  the  41>th  ]iarallel,  in  both 
tile  (,'aseado  and  IJoeky  niouutains,  are  h»\ver  and  easier  of  access  tiiaii 
thosii  within  onr  teriitory.  INdhtwinj;-  tin'  Kraser  river,  ami  its  IjUowit 
or  Harrison  River  Inanch,  tiieiice  crossing'  to  lh(!  npper  Kraser,  they 
have  ii  h)\v  pass  to  the  inivi};ahh'  waters  of  tlie  npjM'r  (N)hnnbia  river. 
So  the  tra(h>  that  we  lutw  carry  on  with  tlu'  jiohl  mines  of  the  ('ohiinbia 
lliver  valley,  by  the  navi},fation  of  that  river  for  L'.IO  mih's  north  of  the 
tilth  i>araliel.  will  be  carried  west  thronjfh  Jbitish  (Johnnbia.  These 
mines  have  yiehh'd  as  much  as  8.")(I0  i)er  day  to  the  men  for  weeks,  and 
front  a  sin;*!!'' claim  over  )«<1(I(I,(MI0  of  }>'old  has  been  taken.  These  ar«^ 
the  local  inducements  that  tlu^  Knj-lish'have  for  buildinji'  a  l*acili<*,  rail 
road, and  they  liave  been  <'onstantly  at  wttrk  to  ascertain  the  most  ju-ac 
ticable  route  by  which  they  can  connect  their  ;;(tld  lields  with  the  rich 
afjricnitural  country  of  the  Saskatchewan,  that  only  awaits  an  outh  I. 
when  its  re.stuirces  will  be  ra])idly  developed. 

In  their  route  from  Canada  the  «)nly  dillicult  portion  is  that  north  ol' 
the  lakes  in  reacliinj>-  tlu^  K'ed  IJiver  of  the  Is'orth.  Vet  there  they  will 
have  the.  navigation  of  tln^  lakes;  so  that  will  not  jtrevent  them  from 
establishiuf;  their  route,  and  nudvinjy,'  the  east  :ind  west  terminus  two 
^•r«'at  dei)ots  of  Ibitish  trade,  drawinj;'  to  them  at  tlu'  same  time  the 
resources  of  our  whole  couutiy  alonj^  the  boinidary  from  liake  Superior 
to  the  Pacific  ocean.  When'iis  we,  by  buihliu};-  tlu^  Xorth  Vacitic  rail- 
roa«l,  w  ill  draw  tlu^  wealth  of  their  country  inttt  our  (M)trers,  as  we  are 
now  doiufj',  by  the  navigation  of  the  upper  ('obnnbia,  and  the  trails 
<»pened  by  tlu^  northwest  boun<lary  surveyiiif;'  ]»arties  to  the  Kootenay 
j>old  lields,  and  eventually  we  w  ill  fall  heir  to  all  Uritish  ixtsse.ssions. 
It  therefore  beeoiiu's  a  necessity  that  we.  should  have  a  road  lu'ar  our 
northern  boi'dcr,  not  only  as  the  most  direct  route  to  (Miina,  India, &c., 
but  to  save  our  own  resources,  or  they,  with  tln^  vast  Saskatchewan  and 
r.ritish  (lohnnbia,  will  be  drained  west  over  the  islaiuls  now  in  dispute, 
and  via  Victoria,  Vancouver  island,  out  throuf;h  the  Fuca  strait,  giviii},' 
ICufjIaiid  thii  control  of  that  commerc«'.  Thus  the  vast  bimber  trade 
of  l*ugct  sound,  and  the  limestone  and  coal  of  the  islands,  will  be  lo.st 
to  American  interests,  to  say  nothing  of  tla^  fisheries  that  are  soon  to 
be(!ome  tlu!  most  important  of  the  world. 

If  that  <!Ountry  Inul  been  better  known  at  the*  commemu'ment  of  the 
discussion  of  the  Oregon  boundary,  instead  of  the  talk  about  trading 
all  Oregon  lor  the  Mciwfoundland  fisheries,  our  rights  to  the  claim  for 
.~)4o  40'  would  have  been  insisted  upon,  which  would  hav(^  given  us  by 
far  more  e.\tensiv(^  tishing  grounds  than  those  of  the  Atlantic. 

With  regard,  I  remain  voJir  obedient  servant, 

(I.  CLINTON  (L\KDNB1I. 

(i<»v.  .1.  (iKKcioiiY  Smith, 

tMift  llovxe. 


tiniiit<«l,y  to 
(Ih*  Itritisli 
i\(^  for  that 
lilt  ^roinul, 
lis.  Ah  to 
Icl,  in  both 

1('('(>SS    tllilll 

its  liiUowit 
'niscr,  th(\\ 
iiibiii  rivor, 
V  ('ohiinl)iti 
orth  of  the 
Itiii.  Tlu'sr 
wcj'ks,  iiiul 

These  iin^ 
l»iicili<*.  mil 

most  lu'iic 
ith  tiie,  rich 
I  ill)  oiithi. 

at  iiortli  ol' 
IV  tlii'.v  will 
:■  them  IVom 
rmiiius  two 
lie  time  tlie 
ke  Superior 
l*iieiH»!  rail 
«,  as  we  are 
1  the  trails 
e  Kootenay 
[losseHsioiis. 
1(1  near  our 
,  li)(lia,&e., 
L'hewaii  and 
■  ill  dispute, 
trait,  j>iviii},' 
niber  tra<h' 
will  be  lost 
are!  soon  to 

iieiit  of  the. 
»out  tradinji: 
le  claim  for 
>iveii  us  bv 
ie. 

JtDNElt. 


M 


::3iM^<saas*:3a»ii*--:!fei»»s:~\,-  ~"*--.»"*'«'»'--'*''^v.*m«gB3Ssr3wi4^gs*iSt«^^^ 


^^ 


